as in bays
a part of a body of water that extends beyond the general shoreline
a secluded cove that smugglers once used
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Recent Examples of coves
Cottages sit at varying elevations, the beach requires a real descent from the hilltop, and the island's best features, remote coves, clifftop pools, and the Sugarloaf summit, all involve uneven ground and serious elevation changes.
—
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
This might look like picture lights, recessed coves, or lamps outfitted with shades.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
Spread across roughly 270 miles of coastline, Puerto Rico’s 300 or so beaches range from secluded coves to lively white-sand stretches with plenty of opportunities for swimming, diving, and water sports.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
Although Bullhead City is a smaller fishing port, the waters still have high fish activity and coves for secluded fishing on the Colorado River.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Cruise around the Halifax Harbour on Little Wing, the hotel’s 36-foot yacht, or venture through nearby coves and bays aboard Reach, the Muir’s high-speed 24-foot motorboat.
—Carolyn Heller, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Most Balinese resorts sell isolation in the form of remote clifftops, jungle retreats or private coves.
—Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 12 Jan. 2026
Another notable individual is a female known as Flame, who has been sighted 695 times over the past 20 years — more than any other humpback — mostly in the coves, bays, and inlets around Juneau, Alaska’s capital.
—Big Think, 26 Dec. 2024
On the North Island, explore craggy coves and cliffside beaches along the Coromandel Peninsula, located across the gulf from Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 18 Dec. 2024
Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
This might look like picture lights, recessed coves, or lamps outfitted with shades.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Feb. 2026
Spread across roughly 270 miles of coastline, Puerto Rico’s 300 or so beaches range from secluded coves to lively white-sand stretches with plenty of opportunities for swimming, diving, and water sports.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 17 Feb. 2026
Although Bullhead City is a smaller fishing port, the waters still have high fish activity and coves for secluded fishing on the Colorado River.
—Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Cruise around the Halifax Harbour on Little Wing, the hotel’s 36-foot yacht, or venture through nearby coves and bays aboard Reach, the Muir’s high-speed 24-foot motorboat.
—Carolyn Heller, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026
Most Balinese resorts sell isolation in the form of remote clifftops, jungle retreats or private coves.
—Arion McNicoll, TheWeek, 12 Jan. 2026
Another notable individual is a female known as Flame, who has been sighted 695 times over the past 20 years — more than any other humpback — mostly in the coves, bays, and inlets around Juneau, Alaska’s capital.
—Big Think, 26 Dec. 2024
On the North Island, explore craggy coves and cliffside beaches along the Coromandel Peninsula, located across the gulf from Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city.
—Nicholas Derenzo, AFAR Media, 18 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for coves
Noun
-
With small hidden bays, rocks overhanging the sea, crystal-clear, sky-blue water, and rugged green terrain, the relatively untouched island is the perfect place to unplug and touch grass.—
Micol Passariello,
Architectural Digest,
26 Feb. 2026
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Inside the former Venice post office (the one that once housed Joel Silver’s production company) is a small campus of podcast studios, edit bays, production spaces, and communal tables.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
25 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The plants that thrived in that ecosystem formed protective estuaries.—
Melina Walling,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
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The crab-eating frog (Fejervarya cancrivora) lives in mangroves, coastal swamps and estuaries across Southeast Asia.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Coves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/coves. Accessed 6 Mar. 2026.
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